Patriarch Pavle consecrates bells for Belgrades St Sava
Cathedral

Belgrade, Nov. 24 2001

Patriarch Pavle, concelebrating with a number of other bishops,
priests and deacons of the Serbian Orthodox Church, consecrated
49 new bells for St Sava Cathedral in Vracar on Saturday.

The service, held at the entrance to the cathedral, was attended
by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the Serbian ministers
of justice and religion, Vladan Batic and Vojislav Milovanovic and
Yugoslav deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, as well as several
hundred members of the public.

Patriarch Pavle told the assembled people that the bells were consecrated
so that they could "glorify God and invite man to do so, just as
our forefathers used to do both in times of peace and of war, in
bondage and at all times."

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church called on believers to
look up to their sanctified predecessors and holy martyrs in order
to find meaning, fulfill the mission of their life, help their families
and bring glory to their names. They would in that way also help
their people ridden by difficulties and adversities.

Djindjic expressed satisfaction at the continuation of the hundred-year-long
construction of the Cathedral. He pointed out that the Serbian government
had set aside part of its funds for the completion of building works
and that "money would pose no obstacle in the future." He expressed
hope that the crypt would be completed by Christmas, and that stone
coating of the interior would start soon, which would mark the beginning
of the final stage.

These bells will be ringing on Christmas 2002, which I expect
to be a special holiday for the entire Serbian people, Djindjic
said after the consecration of 49 bells, cast in the Austrian foundry
"Grassmayr", with the support of numerous donations.

St. Sava Church receives bells

Belgrade, Nov. 23, 2001 - All 49 bells for St. Sava Church, the
biggest of which weighs 6.2 tonnes, arrived at the church's construction
site on Thursday. The bells will toll the hymn to St. Sava on next
Christmas.

The bells were made in the Grassmayr Bell Foundry in Innsbruck,
Austria. The four largest are decorated with four reliefs depicting
St. Sava's image and an angel head, whcih is the foundry's trademark.

Serbian Minister of Construction Dragoslav Sumarac said the crypt
of the church, which has been under construction for a hundred years,
should be completed by Christmas, and that the construction works
will be completed by 2004.

"I am convinced that the Serbian government will also assist in
the church construction," said Sumarac. "Significant financial assistance
will be provided by a consortium comprising 22 firms and a fund
for the crypt and the church, both set up on Serbian Prime Minister
Zoran Djindjic's initiative."